Essay Database

Hesiod and Aeschylus both tell the tale of Prometheus, the god that stole fire from Olympus and gave it to man. Each author takes a different position on the matter: Hesiod condemns Prometheus and man, while Aeschylus celebrates them, which is evident in several characteristics of the myth. First, the role of the female in the relationship between man and gods in each myth is different. Hesiod, for example describes woman as “an evil” created …

…worth fighting for, and Prometheus is their champion. Man is not punished in Aeschylus’ story as he is in Hesiod’s. Prometheus does so much more to help mankind in this story: he gives them intelligence, fire, and, in this story, he gives them hope as well. Hesiod takes a view against Prometheus while Aeschylus defends him using the ideas of the woman, Zeus’ power, and the role of the human race to do it.